Question

Oxidation of ketone with $H_2{O}_2$ or with a peroxy acid is called Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. This oxidation reaction forms

• A. carboxylix acid with the fewer number of carbons
• B. an alcohol with the same number of carbon as in ketone
• C. an ester
• D. carboxylic acid with the same number of carbons as in the parent keton

Answer 1

The correct option is C an ester

In Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, the aldehyde is oxidised to carboxylic acid and the ketone is oxidised to ester group.
In this reaction, the oxygen from peroxy acid is getting inserted between the carbonyl group and H of an aldehyde and
the 'R' of ketone.
If it is a unsymmetrical ketone, then, ‘O’ insertion occurs between the carbonyl group and the R group which have higher migratory aptitude.


Cyclic ketones are converted into cyclic esters (lactones).

Hence, option (c) is correct.